Chapter 77: Not Quite a Reconciliation
The impromptu band disbanded, and the live venue was quickly dismantled by the hotel staff.
Then, a BBQ area was promptly set up by the hotel staff.
Since the students had gathered in a good spot, the BBQ started right away.
The time was before noon, but it would likely be noon by the time the meat and vegetables were grilled.
“Man, that was fun, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah. I didn’t expect it to get that lively.”
“Kazuma-kun, you always drag us into things, but this time was fun.”
“This was the first time I got caught up in Satsuki’s recklessness, but it was surprisingly fun.”
“That’s just swell!”
The four of them sat down on the provided chairs and toasted with juice.
Then, the usual members started gathering.
The girls: Shiori, Karin, Yukihime, Kaede, Yayoi, and Aoi.
Just when it seemed the usual members had assembled, new faces appeared.
“Um… Is it okay if we join you?”
It was Issei, Karen, and Marina.
Behind them, Kanna had come along, thinking it looked interesting.
“Y-You…! You even managed to snag the current student council president of the Second Esper Academy?!”
“Huh? What are you talking about, Kazuma?”
“She’s right behind you! The one-gag character!”
Kazuma pointed at Kanna, who was standing behind Issei.
Kanna, angered by Kazuma’s words, pushed Issei aside and stepped forward.
“I said, who are you calling a one-gag character?!”
“Kanna-chan, of course?”
“Creep! Don’t just start calling me by my first name!”
“Sorry. But calling you Isurugi-senpai is a pain.”
“I’m your senpai! Isurugi-senpai! Repeat after me!”
“I’m your senpai!”
“That’s not what I meant!!”
“C-Can I talk now?”
Issei, feeling left out as Kazuma and Kanna performed their comedy routine, interjected.
“You’re in the way, idiot!”
“Yeah, yeah! Don’t just butt in!”
“Th-That’s harsh! You don’t have to go that far…”
“Can’t you read the room? When me and Kazuma are doing our routine, it kills the mood if a serious guy like you jumps in, right?”
“Yeah, yeah!”
“You’re like a broken radio!”
Kanna smacked Kazuma, who was just repeating himself, on the head.
Kazuma found her sharp retorts amusing.
“Uh, um, sorry…”
“Kisaragi!”
Issei, who had been dejectedly slumping his shoulders, suddenly looked up when Kazuma called his name.
“Go home already.”
“Why would you say something so sad!”
“Ugh!”
Issei pounced on Kazuma, who was sitting in his chair.
Since it was a beach BBQ, both were in swim trunks.
It created the worst possible sight: two shirtless guys clinging to each other.
“This is gross! Get off me already!”
“No! I won’t let go until Kazuma says it’s okay!”
“Aargh, fine! You can stay, so just get off me quickly!”
“Okay!”
After kicking Issei away with a few thuds, Kazuma, finally free, seemed utterly exhausted and let out a deep sigh.
“When did you guys get so friendly?”
As far as Souji knew, Kazuma and Issei had met, but he didn’t think they were particularly close.
However, the scene he had just witnessed made him realize they were much closer than he’d thought.
“Ah, well, this happened after I helped him out with some training.”
“Yes! Kazuma and I are friends!”
“O-Oh. I see. Well, you’re both student council presidents, so try to get along.”
“Yes!”
“Yeah, sure.”
Issei replied energetically, while Kazuma answered listlessly.
Souji gave a wry smile at the difference in their enthusiasm.
He was sure these two would probably stay this way.
“Ah, um, Akagi-san, Kisaragi-san, and Isurugi-san. Would you like to sit here if you don’t mind?”
The girls were sitting together next to the guys.
Karen and Marina, who had been left standing for a while, were invited by Shiori and sat down on nearby empty chairs.
Kanna sat near Yayoi, her senpai, received a juice, and started gulping it down.
“U-Um…”
Karen, who had received a juice like Kanna and was sipping it slowly, timidly raised her hand and looked at Shiori and the others questioningly.
“Um, is… is Satsuki-san always like that?”
“Ah, ah… well, yeah. He’s pretty much always like that.”
Nearby Shiori and the others, Kazuma was laughing foolishly and having a blast with the guys.
Glancing at Kazuma, the girls turned to Karen.
“Do you dislike Kazuma-kun?”
Karen was taken aback by Karin’s blunt question but answered honestly.
“Yes… Because Satsuki-san was so rude to Issei when they first met, you know? Normally, you’d greet someone properly and introduce yourself, right? But instead, he just kept brushing Issei off…”
Listening to Karen, the girls nodded in agreement.
For better or worse, Kazuma’s way of doing things sometimes had negative effects.
It seemed Karen couldn’t accept Kazuma’s style, and her impression of him remained terrible.
“W-Well… It’s true Kazuma-kun treats Kisaragi-kun roughly, doesn’t he? And he messed up on their first meeting too…”
“He himself… probably does have some ill intent…”
“If he has malicious intent, isn’t that even worse? Issei didn’t do anything, you know? He just went to greet him…”
Yes, that was exactly right.
Issei had only gone to greet Kazuma, yet he was ignored and treated rudely.
If it were a close friend, one might concede after much consideration, but it wasn’t something you do to someone you’ve just met.
It was only natural that Kazuma was disliked by Karen and Marina.
“Karen-chan, Marina-chan. I think Satsuki-kun is like that with everyone, you know? He even called Souji by his name without honorifics when they first met.”
Aoi told them how Kazuma had called Souji by his name without honorifics during the Academy Battle Tournament, and Karen and Marina stood up in shock.
“What?! He called Kenzaki-senpai by his name without honorifics?!”
“Yeah. Well, they hit it off right after that. Now they call each other soulmates or long-lost brothers. So, how should I put it… Satsuki-kun isn’t a bad person, but he does rude things, so maybe try to overlook it? But this time, Satsuki-kun is in the wrong, so I don’t think you need to forgive him.”
Kazuma’s way of communicating sometimes hurt people.
Issei himself wasn’t particularly bothered by it, having become friends with Kazuma, but those around him, like Karen and Marina, couldn’t stand it.
They weren’t mature enough to feel good when someone they cared about was being ridiculed.
“Yes. And so, I’ve brought Kazuma-kun, the root of all evil.”
Kazuma, turned into an ice statue by Karin, was carried over.
Seeing Kazuma in such an outrageous state, even Karen and Marina, who disliked him, looked worried.
“It’s alright. I’ll melt him right away.”
Reassuring the two that there was no need to worry, Yukihime began to melt the ice statue that was Kazuma.
“Hot! Hot! So hot!!!”
Kazuma’s upper body was freed, but his lower half was still frozen.
He was immobilized to prevent escape, and with no way out, Kazuma faced Karen and Marina.
“Ah, well, I’ve heard the situation. Regarding this incident, I was in the wrong. As for how I treated Kisaragi, well, I admit there was some mischievous teasing. However, I won’t be changing my attitude towards him in the future. In my mind, he’s registered as a creepy guy. So, I’d appreciate it if you could overlook that part.”
“…I have my reservations, but if you’re reflecting on it, I won’t bring up this matter again. As for the future… well, I saw what happened, so I understand. Issei is probably just overjoyed to have made a friend of the same sex.”
“It helps that you say that. By the way, can’t you do something about it?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t expect it to get this… complicated.”
“My brother has been with us since he was little, so he didn’t have any friends of the same sex and seemed lonely. I’m sure he’s having a lot of fun right now. So, it would help us too if you could get along with him. Also, if possible, we’d appreciate it if you could teach him about appropriate personal space…”
“Maybe I should just stop being his friend…”
Apparently, Issei hadn’t had any friends of the same sex since childhood.
Hearing that, Kazuma understood why his sense of personal space was so messed up, and he seriously considered ending their friendship.